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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 18 October 2012, 12:46:43

Title: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 18 October 2012, 12:46:43
Ok, so here's what this thread is about: I need to make a Powerpoint Presentation for my Intro to Software Apps class.  My proposed topic: Mechanical Keyboards!  I know I already have enough knowledge to do this myself, but I think there is alot I don't know that should also be in this presentation.  Things I could use for this presentation:

Anything you guys will think might be useful for me, post it here.  Credit will be given for anything I decide to use in the presentation.  Oh, and of course, I'll post the final presentation on here for your amusement!

Thanks,

-CLiB
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Sifo on Thu, 18 October 2012, 12:48:33
Lethal Squirrel's cherry gifs are necessary.
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 18 October 2012, 12:49:53
Lethal Squirrel's cherry gifs are necessary.
Already had that in mind.  I'm sure those will be EXTREMELY useful.
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: The_Beast on Thu, 18 October 2012, 12:54:31
Since GH wiki is down, this is the next best thing:
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Main_Page
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 18 October 2012, 12:59:14
Since GH wiki is down, this is the next best thing:
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Main_Page
Would like to avoid using anything from Deskthority if at all possible... after the whole ordeal I had with webwit over there I have really lost some respect for the Deskthority community.
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: The_Beast on Thu, 18 October 2012, 13:04:20
Since GH wiki is down, this is the next best thing:
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Main_Page
Would like to avoid using anything from Deskthority if at all possible... after the whole ordeal I had with webwit over there I have really lost some respect for the Deskthority community.

Whateves, info is info. As long as it's correct I don't care where it comes from
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 18 October 2012, 13:08:06
Since GH wiki is down, this is the next best thing:
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Main_Page
Would like to avoid using anything from Deskthority if at all possible... after the whole ordeal I had with webwit over there I have really lost some respect for the Deskthority community.

Whateves, info is info. As long as it's correct I don't care where it comes from
I suppose so... but I sure as hell won't be giving webwit any credit for it in my presentation.  I would cite DT in general though (I don't plagiarize).
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Fri, 19 October 2012, 12:45:52
Bump.  All help is appreciated, as I only have 6 more days to complete this assignment...
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Fri, 19 October 2012, 14:06:11
Well, Ripster already made his contribution:

http://ripster.imgur.com/

I'm sure I'll find a few somewhat-useful pics buried in there somewhere...

P.S. Don't ban me for saying Ripster please...  :confused:
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 22 October 2012, 08:31:11
Comon guys, don't make me have to dig for all this info myself... as it is I only have 3.5 days left to finish this, and I haven't even started yet.

Anything will help, really...

EDIT: Ya know what, I just had a major herpdy frickin derp moment... I just realized I can use the Mechanical Keyboard Guide from OCN.

(http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/24073351.jpg)
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Tue, 23 October 2012, 08:40:34
Bump.  Just started working on this PowerPoint.  Considering not much useful information was posted here I am having to resort to using the OCN Mechanical Keyboard Guide and Ripster's pics.

Are you guys SURE there isn't anything else useful you could post here for me?  It would be much appriciated...

Thanks!

-CLiB
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: 0100010 on Tue, 23 October 2012, 23:12:17
Did you grab the cutaway buckling spring gif thats floating around?

(http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tech/bucklingspring_mov.gif)

Maybe cite some text from the buckling spring or model m wikipedia pages?

You have coverage of the main available mechanical switch types (Cherry, BS, Capacitive, etc)?

Maybe a bit on key layouts (ANSI, ISO, 101, 104, TKL)?

History on where QWERTY came from, and the other options (DVORAK, AZERTY, etc).

USB, PS2, AT - NKRO, 2KRO, etc

Disadvantages of rubber dome KBs?

Just throwing ideas out...
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: 0100010 on Tue, 23 October 2012, 23:15:36
One other thought are those keypress force/time diagrams- like you usually see for Cherry(s).
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Wed, 24 October 2012, 11:00:31
I have 5 slides dedicated to each of the most popular Cherry switches (Brown, Blue, Black, Red, and Clear), each complete with force diagram and animated GIF.

Oh, and I also have 4 slides dedicated to the most popular switch types (Buckling Spring, Cherry MX, Topre, and ALPS).  And yes, I did use the BS cutaway GIF...

It's almost finished now, just have to write notes for each slide and write a summary slide.  It's a shame, I could put sooo much more info into this if I wasn't limited to 12 slides...
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 25 October 2012, 09:24:03
PowerPoint finished! Many thanks to those who let me use their pics/info to help make this simple guide.

It doesn't cover everything, but I had to keep it short for the sake of presentation time (can't spend all day giving my presentation, ya know...)

Anyways, you can check it out here if you'd like:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/61075086/Mechanical%20Keyboards.pptx
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: SmallFry on Thu, 25 October 2012, 10:39:29
I'll have to add some stuff to your PPT. Then, I'll upload it for a bigger one that we can all use to coerce our loved ones to the better side of keyboards! MWAHAHAH!
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 25 October 2012, 10:41:39
Go for it!  I'd be glad to add more in the future, but for now I had to keep it short (can't spend hours presenting this in class).
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Shadovved on Thu, 25 October 2012, 10:55:05
I see the logitech burn!

Setting fire to the membranes are a good idea! BURN THEM ALL!  :p :p
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 08 November 2012, 13:06:28
Just presented my PowerPoint in class...

Now my professor is asking where she can buy an IBM style keyboard (she remembers how much she enjoyed typing on IBM typewriters).

So yeah, it was a successful presentation...

I got a good laugh out of the burning Logitech board too... and when I went to go open up my PowerPoint (it being stored in a file called "school ****" lol...)
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: SmallFry on Thu, 08 November 2012, 13:48:25
LoL. That's a good one. Glad it went well!
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 08 November 2012, 15:07:00
Congratulations :)
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: Shadovved on Fri, 09 November 2012, 08:32:21
Not bad!

At least you managed to convince someone to switch to mech!

My attempts at trying to convert my friends to join this mech kb cult has not been too successful.................
Title: Re: Looking for some general info on mechanical keyboards.
Post by: TheQsanity on Fri, 09 November 2012, 09:54:53
Ill keep this short aince I am on my phone.

Dont forget the history of type writters.

Dont forget to mention layouts. And why we use qwerty today.


And I dont use DT too much either. They dont seem to welcome americans too much just because we live on a different content for what ever reason. But its okay, I give people of ignorance the benefit of the doubt. Their culture is quite a bit different